I have no real expectations, but I am a fan of the Skins. I don't want to doom us. We have a hard schedule, and new sytems on o and d. It's a learning process, but we could really get on a good roll after 4-5 games. Who knows where we will end up.

I could see us beating Dallas and Philly in the first four weeks and that could propel this team into something special. We will see.

Wow...the kool-aid is particularly strong this offseason. Am I the only one worried about these little facts:
1. Completely new coaching staff (top to bottom)
2. Completely new offensive system
3. Completely new defensive scheme + system
4. New quarterback working with our receivers
5. Rookie LT
6. RT coming off an injury

Those are just the big things -- I know we have made some great moves and I am certainly a fan (check the avatar) but at this moment BEFORE THEY HAVE EVEN PUT ON PADS, personally, I would be very happy with an 8-8 finish. In fact, that would be pretty miraculous considering the factors, division etc.

Every team has questions this time of year, some more than others. A few things that make me feel ok despite all the changes:

1. We're in good hands with this staff. In Shanahan we have one of the better coaches in the game, Kyle is an up and coming OC, and Haslett is a respected defensive mind.

2. In McNabb we have a proven veteran QB who's been to 5 NFC Championships and a SB. He is very familiar with the pressure packed NFC East and will have a little extra something to prove this year. The WRs are a concern but McNabb got by with a lot less for most of his time in Philly. How about a 1-2 punch of Thrash and Pinkston... anyone?

3. The coaches must be convinced Williams can handle the LT spot just fine otherwise we would be hearing whispers of Brown being moved over. Brown's injury situation isn't a big concern to me. He was reportedly ready to come back during the season last year but the team decided they couldn't wait and shut him down. He's had plenty of time to heal up.

All in all my expectation remains 8-8, with a possibility of 10-6 if things come together quickly.

Wow...the kool-aid is particularly strong this offseason. Am I the only one worried about these little facts:
1. Completely new coaching staff (top to bottom)
2. Completely new offensive system
3. Completely new defensive scheme + system
4. New quarterback working with our receivers
5. Rookie LT
6. RT coming off an injury

Those are just the big things -- I know we have made some great moves and I am certainly a fan (check the avatar) but at this moment BEFORE THEY HAVE EVEN PUT ON PADS, personally, I would be very happy with an 8-8 finish. In fact, that would be pretty miraculous considering the factors, division etc.

I hear ya 23, but they way im looking at it, and i admit i am buying into things this year:

1. completely better coaching staff (top to bottom).
2. completely better offensive scheme
3. completely new D scheme - this a question mark for me
4. new better quarterback working with 3rd year players
5. LT whom our FO thought was the best in a deep draft
6. RT who was a bargain if he regains probowl form, at worst he should be better than hicks at RT who can move to RG now.

for the past few years on here i predicted 8-8 for us, give or take a game. years past the best we could hope for is a strong push at the end to ekk our way into the playoffs. now, idk man. i feel like we dont have this ceiling on us, sky is the limit if everything works out well.

I realize some of you, well one of you, feel that nothing Schefter says about the Redskins should be considered since he is friends with Shanahan. And it is just one man's opinion..but as long as we're swimming in the kool-aid!

Clay (Charlotte)

Adam, I know with the McNabb trade the expectations for Washington skyrocketed. But, as we saw last year, that offensive line is terrible and the Skins don't have nearly the weapons that Philly has. What should be the realistic expectations of Washington fans?
Adam Schefter
(10:17 AM)

Funny you should ask that, Clay, because I just wrapped up a segment on Sportscenter in which I said the Redskins went from having one of the worst offensive lines in the league to now having perhaps the best offensive tackle tandem in the NFL. Trent Williams is going to be a star and Jammal Brown is a two-time Pro Bowl selection that is going to be superb in Washington. When a team has bookend tackles like that, it gives the offense the chance to do great things, and the team to succeed similarly

Wow...the kool-aid is particularly strong this offseason. Am I the only one worried about these little facts:
1. Completely new coaching staff (top to bottom)
2. Completely new offensive system
3. Completely new defensive scheme + system
4. New quarterback working with our receivers
5. Rookie LT
6. RT coming off an injury

Those are just the big things -- I know we have made some great moves and I am certainly a fan (check the avatar) but at this moment BEFORE THEY HAVE EVEN PUT ON PADS, personally, I would be very happy with an 8-8 finish. In fact, that would be pretty miraculous considering the factors, division etc.

I am worried about the same things. Things could be problematic. And in the best scenario, there will be growing pains for the reasons you mentioned. I'm still (cautiously) hoping for that best scenario, though.

I'm also hoping that the Cowboys get nowhere near a home Super Bowl date.

I think we'll be one of those middling teams that wins or loses every game by 7 points or less. I love the personnel changes and the coaching changes, and especially the QB change. It's just a massive amount of change to go through.

So many players have to learn a new scheme, new teammates, everything. We're going to have a lot of mistakes. That said, we have our fair share of athleticism and leadership.

So to me we could be anywhere from 6-10 to 10-6, with small margins of victory/loss every time. I see hope for the playoffs, but I wouldn't consider it a failure if we miss.

__________________God made certain people to play football. He was one of them.

I think it was Rabach that said discipline can win you 4-6 games alone. Shanny's tight ship will make an impact for the good, from there it's a matter of just trying to manage through the change to pull it all together.

__________________God made certain people to play football. He was one of them.